FOOTBALL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 478, 30 May 1919, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

By " Fate Trv."

CmMPioxsmp Latibek Senior,

I intend to work out the points for the Championship and count two points for a win and one for a draw.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Really the most important game in the Franklin Kugby Union was that between Pukekohe and Waiuku played at Pukekohe and it was thought that the winner of this match would stand a royal chance for premiership honours. This is quite so, but I am afraid if Pukekohe is going to carry off the honours the team will have to indulge 1 in more practice, particularly scrummage work. The red forwards have the weight but on Saturday they failed dismally to use it. The Waiuku forwards, an even and sturdy lot and possessors of great combination, beat the Pukekoheites for the ball in almost every scrum. When the Pukekohe hookers secured the ball it dwelt among the feet of the back rowers and for love nor money would not come out. This in itself was the sole reason that the red halfback, " Jimmy " Blake, could not set his backs in motion. On the other hand the black half-back quickly got rid of the oval but the first five-eighth was too slow for 0. Wilson and the local rover, GLucas, who, on the majority of occasions cleverly smothered. When the ball got past the black inside five-eighth it travelled rapidly and the visitors gained a good deal of ground and on several occasions the centre and wing three-quarters were within an ace of crossing the coveted line. Taking the play on the whole the score 6—3 was fairly accurate but with ordinary luck at all Waiuku would have won. On Saturday's play lam confident that when these teams meet again at Waiuku the blacks will turn the tables. The blacks threw the leather about in good style and were rather confident as regards this. The local " boys " indulged too much in speculating and the luck was with them. There was no doubt the game was fast and the both packs carried the leather up and down the field in lightning-like manner, but for occasional flashes of brilliant football the game was just ordinary. The Pukekohe men could not handle the ball at all, due no doubt to the alertness of their opponents, who quickly tackled. For the dinners Beef ' Adams and " Jimmy ! Blake shone out brilliantly, like old Sol does in a cloudless sky. These men, full-back and half-bark respectively, no doubt were the saviours of the rods and had it not been for thoir excellent individual efforts, the locals would have gone under like a torpedoed ship in mid ocean. Of the threequarter line Aiken and Sutton were seen to advantage when on the defence, but did not shino too well in the loose. Jonas, who came with & reputation, hardly upheld all that was required of him, but the ball seldom came his way. He will no doubt show up better next time out. The five-eighths (C. Wilson and L. Reynolds) worked like Trojans when on defence, but when in the open " Charley " should let the ball out oftener. " Len." played a good allround game, but was too well marked to distinguish himself. Rover, G Lucas, was a thorn in the side of the visiting backs. He was there when wanted—just as a hungry calf is at the fencn when he wants some milk. Considering that he was in a new position, he fairly excelled himself, and when rep. teams are being selected will lie "hard to keep out. The forwards were an even lot, but there was no doubt tliey were well watched by referee Donovan, and were frequent! v penalised Sid " Marshall often infringed, and the referee -'got it on to him" Poor old Sid -'took :i tumble" in the concluding stages, and kept on side oftener. An appropriate nickname for him would Kp ''Offside Sid." Nevertheless, he was one of the shining lights, and so was Mason. This pair worked very hard, and were well supported by the balance The Waiuku men are a solid lot, and it is hard to individualise any of them, but Cox, P Bright, Coo, and McNarnara, wore a nseful quartette, and tricked the rods very often. I do not want any playei to take offence at any of my remarks as they are ali given in good faith. I still maintain that on the day's play Waiuku were the bitter team. I cannot criticise the other ma'ches, as I did no" see them, FIXT'-UI'S 10U S'vTURL'VY. Senior- - Pukekohe v Tuakau, at Tuakau Bombay v Wai iku, at Waiuku Junior. Pukekohev Tuakau, at Pukekohe Bombay v Waiuku, at Bombay

]'. \Y. L. Par. AS Pt. Pukekohe 1 1 — 6 •1 2 Bombay • ■ 11—6 0 2 Waiuku., 1 — 1 3 h 0 Tuakflu,, ! « 1 ft r, 0 Junior. Pukekohe 1 1 - - 11 n 2 Tuakau., 1 1 — s 4 g Waiuku., 1 — 1 3 11 0 Bombay.. 1—14 8 0